About This Archive

The Dinghy Cruising Association

The Dinghy Cruising Association (DCA) was founded in 1955 to bring together enthusiasts of cruising in small open boats — dinghies, dayboats, and other craft small enough to trailer behind a car. What began as a small group of like-minded sailors grew into a thriving community of adventurers who proved that you don't need a large yacht to explore the coastline, creeks, and estuaries of the British Isles.

The DCA published a quarterly Bulletin from its founding, filled with cruise reports, technical articles, letters from members, rally reports, and book reviews. These bulletins became an invaluable resource for dinghy cruisers, documenting not just where to sail but how to sail safely and enjoyably in small open boats.

The Archive

This archive contains 1,560 articles extracted from DCA Bulletins numbered 001 through 181, spanning the years 1955 to 2003. The collection includes:

• Cruise reports from waters around the British Isles and beyond
• Letters to the editor discussing technique, boats, and cruising philosophy
• Book reviews from the DCA library
• Rally reports documenting group sailing events
• Technical articles on boat design, rigging, and equipment
• Editorials and official association communications

Coverage

The reports cover 487 sailing locations, from the Solent to the Scottish Highlands, from the Norfolk Broads to the Channel Islands. They feature 68 different boat types, with the Wayfarer, Mirror, and Drascombe dinghies being among the most popular. 140 authors contributed to the bulletin over these decades.

Navigating the Archive

You can browse the archive in several ways:

• By Bulletin — chronological, organized by bulletin number and year
• By Location — alphabetical list of all 487 locations
• By Sailing Area — interactive map of UK sailing regions
• By Boat — browse by dinghy class or boat type
• By Author — find articles by specific contributors
• Other Categories — letters, book reviews, editorials, and rally reports

Technical Notes

This is a static HTML website — no JavaScript required. It works on any modern browser and is designed to be readable on both desktop and mobile devices. The archive was built from original .doc and .pdf files using automated text extraction and location/boat detection.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Dinghy Cruising Association and the many members who contributed articles over nearly five decades. Special recognition to long-serving editors and prolific contributors like Joan Abrams, E G Coleman, Peter Bick, Len Wingfield, and many others who made the Bulletin such a valuable resource.

License

This archive is made available for historical and research purposes. The original content remains the property of the Dinghy Cruising Association and the individual authors.